Minnesota Cottage Food Law: Labeling and Sales Guide
Cottage food regulations for Minnesota — sales limits, allowed and prohibited products, labeling requirements, and where you can sell direct-to-consumer.
Quick Answer
Minnesota requires every cottage food producer to register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture each year (registration period April 1 to March 31). The annual sales cap is $78,000 per registered individual: Tier 1 producers (up to $7,665) pay no fee but complete annual training, while Tier 2 producers ($7,666 to $78,000) pay a $50 fee and take an approved food safety course every three years. Only non-hazardous foods and certain home-canned high-acid goods (pH 4.6 or lower, water activity 0.85 or less) are allowed.
Minnesota Cottage Food Law: At a Glance
| Law / Program | Minnesota Cottage Food Exemption |
| Enacted / Last Amended | 2015; updated 2021; further revisions effective Aug 2027 |
| Annual Sales Limit | $78,000 per year per registered individual (Tier 1 up to $7,665 is fee-exempt) |
| Statute Citation | Minn. Stat. § 28A.152 |
| Enforcing Agency | Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) |
Allowed Cottage Food Products
- ✓Non-potentially-hazardous baked goods
- ✓Certain jams and jellies
- ✓Home-canned pickles, vegetables, and fruits with pH 4.6 or lower and water activity 0.85 or less
Products NOT Permitted Under Cottage Food
- ✗TCS / refrigerated foods
- ✗Meat, poultry, and fish products
- ✗Low-acid canned goods
- ✗Any food outside the non-hazardous definition
Where You Can Sell
- •Direct to consumer at farmers markets and community events
- •Direct sales from the producer's home
- •Online and delivery within Minnesota
- •NOT permitted: wholesale or resale
- •NOT permitted: interstate shipping
Minnesota Cottage Food Labeling Requirements
- 1Registered name or registered cottage food business name
- 2Registration number or home address
- 3Date the product was made
- 4Full ingredient list, including major allergens
- 5Exact statement: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Minnesota Cottage Food FAQs
Do I have to register in Minnesota?
Yes. Every cottage food producer must register with the MDA each year before selling, regardless of how much they sell. Registration runs April 1 to March 31.
What is Minnesota's cottage food sales cap?
$78,000 per year per registered individual. Tier 1 (up to $7,665) pays no registration fee; Tier 2 ($7,666 to $78,000) pays a $50 fee.
What training does Minnesota require?
Tier 1 producers complete an online training and exam each year. Tier 2 producers take an approved food safety course once every three years while actively selling.
What foods can I sell under Minnesota's exemption?
Only non-potentially-hazardous foods (such as baked goods and certain jams/jellies) and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits meeting the pH 4.6 and water-activity 0.85 thresholds.
What must every Minnesota label say?
Your registered name or business name, your registration number or home address, the date made, a full ingredient list with allergens, and the exact statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."
Related Guides for Cottage Food Producers
Homemade Food Labels
What's required on cottage food labels even when nutrition facts panels are exempt.
FDA Small Business Exemption
When the FDA waives nutrition label requirements — federal rules layered on top of state cottage food laws.
Allergen Labeling Rules
FALCPA + FASTER Act: the 9 major allergens that must be disclosed on every food label — including cottage food.
Scaling Beyond Cottage Food?
When you exceed your state's cottage food limit or move to retail distribution, you need a full FDA Nutrition Facts label. Generate one free in 3 minutes.
Open Free Generator